Basketball fans knew that while the Lady Tigers were the third seed and Putnam County had fallen three spots lower to the sixth seed, the opening round match-up for the district tournament would be a close game.

If you had told these same experts that SCR-I's Meagan Fromm would pour in 34 points against the Midgets, they would have assured the Lady Tigers would have been victorious.

That was not the case as Fromm carried her team through four quarters of play into overtime. The workload may have taken it's toll as SCR-I was extended into triple overtime and simply could not hit the game winning shot to break the tie in either of the first two overtimes.

Then again it seemed to most observers that Fromm was fouled on her last second shot at the end of regulation. She appeared to get hammered on her move to the basket at the end of the first overtime. Then there was the conclusion of the second overtime when Fromm and the Putnam County defender both ended up sprawled out on the floor without the benefit of a call from the officials.

"I don't like to point at these types of things and say it cost us a game, but I felt like Meagan was fouled on all three shot attempts that could have won us the game and she did not get the call," Coach Andrea Dabney said.

The whistle did not blow on any of the three shot attempts ultimately sending the game into triple overtime.

The inability to end the game cost SCR-I the season as Putnam County poured in seven points in the final overtime en route to the 49-47 upset.

Scotland County opened the game with a 10-6 lead to end the first period. Putnam County struggled to score while Courtnee Ream was on the bench with two quick fouls.

Jessie Cotton started the scoring with a pair of free throws. Fromm then put up six straight points before Sara Norton closed out the quarter with an easy basket inside off the assist from Cotton.

The second quarter was all Putnam County as Ream returned to spark the Midgets. She and sophomore Katie Fowler combined for 16 points in a key run by the Midgets that turned a four-point deficit into a 26-17 halftime lead.

The lone score for SCR-I in the first six minutes of the second period came from freshman Rebecca Consbrock. On a jumper from the wing. Fromm helped trim the deficit from double digits with a pair of free throws as well as a late three pointer.

Scotland County responded to the challenge in the third quarter. Fromm took over the game with 11 straight points for her team to bring SCR-I within two points. Norton tied the game at 30-30 when she scored on an inbounds play with 1:55 left to play in the period. Putnam County rebounded to lead 34-32 after the third period.

Neither team could break the ice in the fourth period until nearly six minutes had elapsed from the fourth period.

Fromm tied the game at 34-34 with a score on an offensive rebound with just 2;21 left in the game. The Midgets answered the challenge to pull ahead again before Fromm hit two clutch free throws to tie the contest at 36-36 with 55 seconds to play.

Putnam County ran the clock down to just 10 seconds before attempting the game winning shot. It fell short and Cotton came away with a big rebound giving SCR-I one final shot with 9.2 seconds to play. The Lady Tigers could not score and the game went into overtime.

Fromm put her team ahead to start the extended play as she scored inside over a triple team of defenders. Fowler answered for Putnam County to tie the game at 38-38. Norton made the score 40-38 with a bucket inside but Putnam County again evened the score at 40-40 with 31 seconds to play.

The Tigers held the ball for the final shot but the winning effort from Fromm rattled in and out sending the game to a second overtime.

Three points would have been enough to send one team home victorious but the squads each managed just two points. The Tigers bucket came early on as Cotton broke down the defense on the dribble and found Fromm for an easy score. Fowler tied the game 42-42 with a driving score with 1:31 to play.

Putnam County was holding for the last shot when Valerie Crawford came up with a big steal and gave the Lady Tigers a chance to win. But Fromm's shot as time wound down just would not go down.

The tension finally took its toll in the third overtime as Putnam County opened up a quick lead and held on for the 49-47 win.

The loss sends Scotland County home for the season. SCR-I finished the year with a 13-12 mark and a 4-3 record in conference play.